Safe at Home (Warm Springs Trilogy Book 1) by Christina Kirby Page A

local authorities . . .”
    Sam wasn’t listening anymore. She was shaking. Worked at a bank . Born locally . The words played on repeat in her head. Sam remembered the first time she’s sat across from Denise in her office for her first job interview after graduating and how scared she’d been. But, Denise had been all smiles and offered her a job at the bank the same day. Denise who’d become her best friend and mentor.
    Sam’s legs were numb and refused to move. “Oh, Denise,” she sobbed. It was all her fault. She stared around the room, eyes wide, and started feeling as though his eyes were watching her from the hallway or from the window to her bedroom. It wasn’t possible, and yet, she couldn’t shake the terror taking root in her chest.
    Her hands shook harder and her heart pounded. Panic set in and the corners of her vision began to blur. She had to get out. “Oh, God.” Sam fell to her knees and fought the urge to vomit as she crawled to get away.
    Spencer lowered the table saw’s spinning blade through the wood. He focused on the line he’d drawn to ensure accurate measurements, but his mind was on Sam. She couldn’t fight him forever.
    He’d thought he could quench his need to feel her lips on his with a simple kiss, but he’d been wrong. The kiss had only made him want more. He wanted to drink her in, explore all of her. Under her shy exterior, there was a woman dying to get out.
    He raised the saw and studied his cut. Then his phone buzzed. Spencer paused and took off his work glove while he fished around in his pocket.
    “Hello?” He swiped the sweat from his forehead onto his sleeve.
    “Spencer? It’s Mary. I’m sorry to bother you, but I didn’t know who else to call. And, I didn’t want to worry Earl and Betsy.”
    “What’s wrong, Mary?” A crease formed between his eyes as he tried to figure out a scenario in which she would call him regarding some kind of trouble, but he kept coming up blank. Mary rarely called him unless it was about hiring him for an odd job.
    “It’s probably nothing. I feel silly now.”
    “Just tell me what’s worrying you, Mary.”
    “Well, it’s Sam.”
    His adrenaline kicked in. “What about Sam?” he asked, all pleasantries vanished.
    “She never came in this morning and I can’t reach her. She was supposed to be here at nine. I figured she probably overslept, but she’s never been late and it’s eleven-thirty now.”
    Spencer was already pulling his shirt on as he walked towards his truck.
    “I’ll check on her. I’m sure it’s nothing.”
    “I hope it’s all right that I called you,” Mary said apologetically.
    “It’s fine. You did the right thing. Thanks, Mary.” Spencer punched the gas after shouting at his brother that he had to make a run. He was sure it was nothing, but he couldn’t shake the feeling there was something wrong.
    Spencer’s imagination was beginning to get the best of him. What if she’d fallen down the stairs? She was there alone, it could happen. What if…oh, he didn’t know…anything could’ve happened. Growing more anxious by the minute, Spencer ignored most of the traffic laws. When he pulled up in front of Sam’s house, he hit his brakes hard enough to cause a faint screech.
    Spencer cleared the stairs in two steps and pounded on the front door. There was no answer, so he rounded the house to the back porch. When there was no answer again, he tried the knob, but it was locked. Fear getting the best of him, Spencer reared back and kicked the door. The frame gave way to the sudden blow allowing him access to the house.
    “Sam,” he shouted.
    He knew she was there. Her car was in the drive and there were remnants of breakfast sitting on the counter. He stopped suddenly, when he heard voices coming from upstairs. Racing up the steps and down the hall toward Sam’s room, he found the TV on, but no sign of her.
    He turned to leave and froze at the faint sound of thumping, again and again in slow